Friday – made my way to TST on my own – navigating the way to the Star Ferry from the Wan Chai metro stop – made it! – paid the fifty cent ferry fee for a spectacular ride across the harbour. Met Gordon at a fancy mall and headed to ladies’ street – a selling street near Nathan Lane with innumerable stalls selling watch and bag ripoffs and all assortment of touristy kitsch and tech items. Snagged some souvenirs. Had breakfast at what Gordon considered to be a typical Hong Kong breakfast – very much influenced by the Portuguese I feel – egg custard tarts and French toast with a combination of peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk in the middle topped with maple syrup. I am constantly surprised by things that HAVEN’T made it to the U.S. because these things are so compatible to US tastes, I feel. Later, had a bowl of soup at a sidewalk stand not sure what it was made from – didn’t ask but had fake shark fins in it made from dough– delicious – with a side of rice balls and shrimp cakes laced in a spicy sauce. Then headed out to Sai Gong – a fishing/boating area outside of town – lots of yachts moored in a quiet bay with seafood restaurants along a boardwalk. Shared the Book of Mormon cast recording on the way. Gordon said he had stopped some missionaries on the street one day and said he had lived in Utah – now they were hounding him constantly. At Sai Gong, some old side streets sprinkled with trendy coffee shops. Had a beer and Gordon shared more of his plans and experiences since leaving the US. Stopped by his apartment so he could have a shit – one thing he had picked up from his time in Utah was a displeasure for Chinese public toilets – especially when Number Two is involved. Very nice but compact apartment which he shares with his parents and brother – all not around at the time. As we drove back to town, Gordon shared some of his favorite music – stuff he used to calm his lonely heart! No time for cheesy noodles so we made plans to meet for lunch on Saturday and have a farewell cheesy noodle farewell meal. Gordon dropped me off at the ferry pier and went off to a meeting. It was 7:45 and I saw a crowd gathering to see the laser light show at 8. Waited for it but it was pretty much a bust – a few buildings lit up – basically advertising for different companies and a few laser strobe lights from a couple of buildings. Took the ferry back home stopping for a baguette to enjoy for dinner.
Saturday – typhoon was approaching – category 3 – headed to the theatre at the Academy of Performing Arts to get tickets for the Sunday matinee of Singin in the Rain. I was too early and needed to get to TST to meet Gordon – walked down Lockhart Road to the pier and saw lots of interesting pubs and restaurants of all types – decided to have brunch before the play and dinner afterwards. Ferry again to Kowloon – drenched with sweat from the increasing humidity and rain clouds gathering. Made it to the cheesy noodle shop which was behind a second hand camera store – never would have known! Very much a mac and cheese interpretation with sausage, pork and chicken chopped up in it. Yummy! The walls were plastered with pictures of Hong Kong celebrities who had eaten there. A definite insider place. Stopped on the way back to get the ticket for Sunday and headed home as the rain started to intensify. Once I got to my hotel, the rain was coming in sheets and the wind was battering the hotel and the harbour. I hunkered down to watch some Homeland and keep dry.
Sunday – a late start – Skyped with family – headed to Lockhart Road for brunch – along the way Brits were already pints at the Queen Victoria pub and others – one was even titled The Typhoon – already getting rowdy with the rugby matches being shown Ate at The Flying Pan – western breakfast eatery packed with expats and Hong Kongese alike – full English breakfast with eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato and beans! Got to the theatre and was amazed by the crowd – lots of Chinese families – The show was delightful and it was great to see how it went over so well – especially the parts with the trials of getting the movie sound to work with Lina Lamont’s horrible speech. The first three rows were issued rain parkas for the Singin in the Rain number which closed Act One – streams of water were shot over the stage. Pretty thrilling. At the end, they reprised the number with the full cast and we all of us high and dry viewers were delighted to see the first row people scramble for cover. Stopped along Lockhart for dinner – the Brits were even drunker and rowdier – lots of “massage parlors” on the street with the short, stocky “madams” grabbing single male passersby including your truly – “Hello, Mister – try for a good time?” Very Suzy Wong! I decided on Mexican – my last American food craving appeased! Happy hour margaritas at two for one and I was quite tipsy when I headed to the metro and home to pack. Typhoon was moving out to the mainland but had caused problems in Guangdong province and stranded travelers trying to return to China. Took the subway to the airport – ran into some of my students at the airport – also returning - had a lovely eel breakfast and got my plane to Nanjing.
